Privacy -focused browser DuckDuckGo is intentionally allowing Microsoft trackers on third-party websites as part of an agreement in the search content contract between the two companies.
See also: DuckDuckGo announces a new Mac web browser with a focus on privacy
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that advertises its privacy, as it does not track users' searches or behavior while performing searches. Additionally, instead of building user profiles to serve interest-based ads, DuckDuckGo uses contextual advertising from partners, such as Microsoft Ads
Although DuckDuckGo does not store personal identifiers, Microsoft may track your IP address and other information when you click on an advertising link for “accounting purposes,” but it is not associated with an advertising user.
DuckDuckGo offers a privacy-focused web browser for iOS and Android that promotes many privacy features, such as HTTPS encryption, third-party cookie blocking, and tracking blocking.
See also: DuckDuckGo: Significant growth in 2021 and more emphasis on privacy
However, security researcher Zach Edwards discovered that while the browser blocks Google and Facebook, it allowed Microsoft trackers to continue running.
Further testing showed that DuckDuckGo allowed trackers related to the domains bing.com and linkedin.com while blocking all other trackers.
In response to Edwards on the subject, DuckDuckGo CEO and founder Gabriel Weinberg confirmed that their browser intentionally allows Microsoft to track websites due to an agreement regarding search.
While DuckDuckGo has been transparent about its advertising partnership with Microsoft, it's unclear why it didn't disclose its license to use Microsoft trackers until a security researcher.
See also: ProtonMail: Introduces new system to block email trackers
This revelation comes at a particularly interesting time, as DuckDuckGo recently slammed Google for its new “Topics” and “FLEDGE” tracking methods, saying: “Google says it’s better for privacy, but the fact is that tracking is tracking, and it doesn’t matter how you present it.
